In a time of deep reflection for the Church in Brazil, bishops gathered in Aparecida for the 62nd General Assembly of the CNBB. This meeting takes place during a special period, just over a year after the passing of Pope Francis and the election of the new Pontiff, Pope León XIV. The atmosphere is not one of mere administrative meeting, but of a genuine moment of listening to the Holy Spirit, seeking to discern the new paths God is opening for evangelization in our land.
The chosen location, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, is no coincidence. It is a space that breathes faith, history, and popular devotion. Gathering at the feet of the Patroness of Brazil is a powerful symbolic gesture: it means placing all the work under the maternal protection of Mary and seeking inspiration in the simplicity and strength of the Brazilian people's faith. It is an invitation to look at evangelization not only with strategies, but with the heart.
The president of the CNBB, Cardinal Jaime Spengler, began the proceedings with a touching reflection: "God is communication." This fundamental truth reminds us that the essence of evangelization lies in encounter, in the loving dialogue that God Himself initiated with us. It is not first about techniques or programs, but about witnessing to and sharing the communicative love of the Father, fully revealed in Jesus Christ.
New Times, New Challenges for Faith
Brazilian society is undergoing rapid and profound transformations. People's questions, their anxieties, and their searches for meaning take on new forms. The bishops' assembly recognizes that the methods of the past, however valuable they were, need to be revisited in light of the "signs of the times." The challenge is to proclaim Jesus Christ, "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8, NIV), in a way that touches the heart of today's man and woman.
Among the themes requiring renewed pastoral attention are the digital reality, which creates new spaces for relationship but also for loneliness; urgent ecological issues, which call for integral conversion; and care for families, the vital cell of society and the Church. Evangelization cannot be a monologue directed at a culture that no longer exists. It needs to be a courageous and creative dialogue with the contemporary world, illuminating its searches with the light of the Gospel.
In this context, the figure of Pope León XIV brings a breath of renewal. His election in May 2025 marked the beginning of a new pontificate, which inherited the legacy of Pope Francis and now guides the universal Church with his own leadership. The bishops of Brazil seek to align the efforts of the local Church with the teaching and inspiration of the Successor of Peter, working in communion with the whole Church.
The Power of Communion and Witness
The assembly is not an isolated event. It represents episcopal communion, the college of bishops united in the same mission received from the apostles. This unity is, in itself, a powerful evangelizing message in a fragmented world. As Jesus prayed to the Father: "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (John 17:21, NIV). The visible unity of the shepherds is a credible sign of God's love.
The work unfolds in plenary sessions, discussion groups, and moments of prayer. It is not just about producing documents, but about cultivating a common vision, a pastoral heart synchronized with the Heart of Christ. The bishops exchange experiences from their regions, listen to experts, and, above all, seek God's will together. It is a synodal process in its essence: walking together, listening to one another, and discerning the way forward.
The witness of life remains the first form of evangelization. The guidelines that will emerge from this gathering will primarily aim to equip all communities, movements, and lay faithful to be credible witnesses of God's love in the midst of the world. Evangelization is not the task of specialists alone, but the vocation of every baptized person.
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